A Co-Robotic Positioning Device for Carrying Surgical End-Effectors

The development of a remotely operated, Co-Robotic Positioning Device (CRPD) for instrumental backing and optimal base position to robotic arms in tele-surgery is discussed. To optimise the setting of robotic operating rooms (ROR) by reducing the structures’ size around the patient and by selecting task-driven layouts, the design of a hanging servo-carrier coming from the ceiling is chosen, rather than a device located on the floor. The present study prospects a split-duty approach, distinguishing the Co-Robotic Positioning Device, CRPD, from the front-end effectors, each subsystem hierarchically controlled by remote location, in keeping with optimal protocols. The attention is focused on the slave-carrier, to establish an optimal design of the CRPD, based on the characteristics of robotic effectors and the surgical task. The CRPD is conceived to support (up to four) robotic effectors, each one equipped with proper tools (endoscope, scalpels, scissors, suture needles, etc.). The CRPD, actually, by optimally positioning the robotic arms, avoids the need of manual deployment, in current setups often necessary to avoid singularities or collisions. The Automatic Changing Device for Surgical Tools, ACD-ST, is another significant device of the conceived slave-carrier. It allows the tele-operating surgeon to change the tools (scalpels, scissors, etc.) by a direct command from his console. Example applications aim at ticklish endoscopic/tomic operations that require high accuracy with low involved forces such as cardio-thoracic-surgery, abdominal surgery, spine-surgery, microsurgery (neurosurgery, hand-surgery, ophthalmic-surgery, ear-nose-throat surgery), say, the typical domains of MIRS, where robotic surgery is quickly expanding.